Recap

We had a very nice and fun weekend. It started off with going to BookPeople on Friday to see Lev Grossman talk about his new book The Magicians. I remember getting an ARC for this book a while back and thinking it sounded fun and after hearing him talk about the book I am even more intrested in it. Granted, I have a bunch of other “obligation” reads that I need to get through this month but I really want to read it. Oh and he even had these gorgeous, colorful maps to hand out of Fillory, the setting of The Magicians.

The rest of the weekend was a blur of yoga, biking, and bookbinding. I think I need another couple of free days to catch up on everything else I didn’t get to do. How about you?

As far as reading, I did get to read the latest issue of Bitch Magazine. You have to check it out to see the blurb on Persephone Books. Yay, more press for Persephone. And, there was a really interesting article on Priv Lit. I’d never heard of that before but I can see how that has become a trend. You can check out the article online. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Finally, my current book is a strange read. I think it’s because I just recently finished another Swedish thriller and this one, The Fire Engine that Disappeared, also has a lot of descriptions that are very negative towards women. I think after this one my next read has to be quite different.

Alright, now I do have to go finish that book. So I hope you had a great weekend and have been reading something good.

Interesting article on Privlit–I’d not heared that term before. I think I am safe as I don’t have enough money for those sorts of expensive psychological cures! The weekend flew by but I don’t have much to show for it–I did finish reading My Cousin Rachel, and am working on a Swedish crime novel, too (The Darkest Room), which happily is straight forward crime and not against women!

Interesting article. I’ve not heard the term priv-lit before either. There’s nothing wrong with me that needs fixing but if there were I certainly wouldn’t be able to afford any of those expensive cures even if I wanted to.

I’m tempted by the Ivy Compton-Burnett, as I’ve only read one of her novels and it was quite well done.

That’s an interesting article; thanks for posting the link. I did, finally, read Eat, Pray, Love, and although parts of it were every bit as irritating as I had expected, other parts made me re-think my initial judgements. I’ve recommended it to a couple of other reading acquaintances who have different taste in books: they loved it. ::shrug::

Ha! I will definitely read the article on priv-lit. I’m hooked just from the blurb and a quick gander at the link.

June 15, 2010

Kathleen

Just read the article on priv lit. Thanks for the link and my first introduction to this term. The article was so insightful and highlighted something that I’ve often thought which is that the kind of enlightenment that Elizabeth Gilbert and others like her espouse is inherently indulgent and not something that the average woman, struggling to make ends meet, can partake in. My book club read Eat, Pray, Love and they weren’t that crazy about it. I’m wondering now if they weren’t all subconsciously bristling at the fact that her journey was unrealistic for the average stay at home wife and mother. Anyway, thanks for turning me on to this term. You’ve given me much to ponder.

Quote of the Month

“So often, a visit to a bookshop has cheered me, and reminded me that there are good things in the world.” ~ Vincent Van Gogh